27 April 2013, 10:53
So I recently got back from a few days in the Lake District on a camping trip and I thought I would share my experiences, I used the trip to test a lot of the things I have in my kits.
The first thing I tested was my newest shoes which are the Northface hedgehog. They held up really well and wore them the entire trip. I did get a few blisters from a hike up Scafell Pike. They worked well on slippery rocks and in the snow that was further up. I was surprised how waterproof they were after another hike through some seriously waterlogged and boggy fields. I had the whole toe submerged and didn’t get wet feet at all.
![[Image: Shoes_zps2abf47d0.jpg]](http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/SecretPrep/Shoes_zps2abf47d0.jpg)
I mostly wore 1000 mile socks with them and they are pretty good but the comfiest socks were made by Lorpen. On Scafell I was using a new “tacticool†bag I got sent from china off eBay. I have found that most maxpedition bags are made in Asia and you can get the same bag with the same materials for a cheaper price off eBay. It handled the trip well and got a lot of sweat poured onto it. The problem is the shoulder straps aren’t too thick so I might have to adapt the bag in the near future but I like that I can use a shoulder straps like a satchel or use it like a back pack. I attached a small Blackhawk bladder using mollee and on the way down attached an Alice clip water bottle too.
![[Image: Bag_zps678b6c48.jpg]](http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/SecretPrep/Bag_zps678b6c48.jpg)
In the test I slept on an exped UL 7 which packs down really small and was really comfy it blew up with the exped schnozzel pump bag so I get minimum moisture in the mat.
![[Image: 1117o.jpg]](http://www.elitemountainsupplies.co.uk/images/products/1117o.jpg)
The first night I used just my homemade down quilt. I made it last year and it worked well in the temperature but it wouldn’t go much colder. It also slid off me every night so I will need to add straps to go around and under my mat. I also used two wool blankets an old polish army blanket I got from a surplus store and I used an alpaca throw underneath for comfort. Alpaca is lighter and warmer than sheep’s wool but I can’t find a big thick blanket, so I use a thin throw just for its softness.
Other gear I tested for the first time was an US army rat pack with heaters and mountain house meals.
The rat pack was really good (I was shocked) I had the beef patty which really heated up using the heaters it comes with. After I had cooked my food I used the heater for 20 – 30 mins after as a hot water bottle. It does give of hydrogen though and smells funny. Pizza crackers came with it and were awesome. A few negatives with these types of food are they use hydrogenated fat and have zero fibre also made me gassy which isn’t good in a tent. The mountain house were really tasty and I am planning on getting some of the number 10 tins now I have taste tested some of them. But it is tricky to make sure there are no crunchy bits and you have to have exact-ish measurements of water. I had a second canteen and cup which had some measurements on.
I have found a new love for wool and wore wool baselayers, t-shirt and boxers, and it is true they do not hold any smell. I sweated my balls off when walking up Scafell and they wicked like a dream. I also tried a UBACS shirt with a tee over the top. The thick sleeves kept me warm when it was pouring with rain. It chucked it down two of the days I was there but my M65 Jacket kept me dry surprisingly well but eventually became saturated however my ripstop poncho kept me dry and packed down small I also invested in some cheap waterproof trousers and for some reason the ones I own keep sticking together on the inside and it takes 15 mins to unstuck. I have no idea why they do it but now I have new ones I will make some gaiters out of the old ones. I also got a down vest and a couple of other deals while in the lakes as all the shops drop the prices because of competition.
If you ever are in the lakes Grasmere gingerbread is awesome
![[Image: P1010144_zps7ed7f6bb.jpg]](http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/SecretPrep/P1010144_zps7ed7f6bb.jpg)
The first thing I tested was my newest shoes which are the Northface hedgehog. They held up really well and wore them the entire trip. I did get a few blisters from a hike up Scafell Pike. They worked well on slippery rocks and in the snow that was further up. I was surprised how waterproof they were after another hike through some seriously waterlogged and boggy fields. I had the whole toe submerged and didn’t get wet feet at all.
I mostly wore 1000 mile socks with them and they are pretty good but the comfiest socks were made by Lorpen. On Scafell I was using a new “tacticool†bag I got sent from china off eBay. I have found that most maxpedition bags are made in Asia and you can get the same bag with the same materials for a cheaper price off eBay. It handled the trip well and got a lot of sweat poured onto it. The problem is the shoulder straps aren’t too thick so I might have to adapt the bag in the near future but I like that I can use a shoulder straps like a satchel or use it like a back pack. I attached a small Blackhawk bladder using mollee and on the way down attached an Alice clip water bottle too.
In the test I slept on an exped UL 7 which packs down really small and was really comfy it blew up with the exped schnozzel pump bag so I get minimum moisture in the mat.
The first night I used just my homemade down quilt. I made it last year and it worked well in the temperature but it wouldn’t go much colder. It also slid off me every night so I will need to add straps to go around and under my mat. I also used two wool blankets an old polish army blanket I got from a surplus store and I used an alpaca throw underneath for comfort. Alpaca is lighter and warmer than sheep’s wool but I can’t find a big thick blanket, so I use a thin throw just for its softness.
Other gear I tested for the first time was an US army rat pack with heaters and mountain house meals.
The rat pack was really good (I was shocked) I had the beef patty which really heated up using the heaters it comes with. After I had cooked my food I used the heater for 20 – 30 mins after as a hot water bottle. It does give of hydrogen though and smells funny. Pizza crackers came with it and were awesome. A few negatives with these types of food are they use hydrogenated fat and have zero fibre also made me gassy which isn’t good in a tent. The mountain house were really tasty and I am planning on getting some of the number 10 tins now I have taste tested some of them. But it is tricky to make sure there are no crunchy bits and you have to have exact-ish measurements of water. I had a second canteen and cup which had some measurements on.
I have found a new love for wool and wore wool baselayers, t-shirt and boxers, and it is true they do not hold any smell. I sweated my balls off when walking up Scafell and they wicked like a dream. I also tried a UBACS shirt with a tee over the top. The thick sleeves kept me warm when it was pouring with rain. It chucked it down two of the days I was there but my M65 Jacket kept me dry surprisingly well but eventually became saturated however my ripstop poncho kept me dry and packed down small I also invested in some cheap waterproof trousers and for some reason the ones I own keep sticking together on the inside and it takes 15 mins to unstuck. I have no idea why they do it but now I have new ones I will make some gaiters out of the old ones. I also got a down vest and a couple of other deals while in the lakes as all the shops drop the prices because of competition.
If you ever are in the lakes Grasmere gingerbread is awesome
(The veiw on the the walk)
